I am excited about my first day joining the American University team as your 15th president. I am honored to be a part of this community and look forward to getting to know you and learning from you.

Thank you for your warm welcome and thanks to all of you who have contributed to the innovative and on-the-move place that AU is today, especially President Kerwin! I want to thank the AU Board of Trustees, search committee chair Jeff Sine, chairman Jack Cassell, and everyone involved in the presidential search for entrusting me with this responsibility. In the months of the search process and since I have been named, I have enjoyed learning more and more about our extraordinary university.

I have started meeting many of the incredible individuals that make AU such a great place and this morning I met many more through the open house at the President’s Office Building. I am interested in thoughts and ideas from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and others on the most important things to continue; the most important things to change or improve; and any advice on creative ways to make AU an even more distinctive university. There will be more opportunities for us to visit in the coming weeks.

My Greek family has emphasized the importance of education throughout my lifetime. My mother taught in everything from a one room school to a college and my small town in West Virginia invested in my education. I am thrilled that I can be a part of this great place where education and research are our mission. My husband, Stephen, our children, Helene and Matthew, and I are all in and we are proud to be AU Eagles.

It is my true privilege to work with you to have an even greater impact.